There are lots of ways to raise cash - don’t give up on it

FUNDRAISER Les Heyhoe

Les Heyhoe

THE reason I got involved in fundraising was when I saw the need that there is never enough money to go around in communities.

There are good causes, and if they’re charitable causes then that’s better still as you know the money is going where it should be.

I get satisfaction from doing it; to me a genuine thank you means more than anything else.

I have a full-time job but I’ve always done voluntary work in my spare time. I spend at least two or three hours a day on it.

I started when I was 16 in Portsmouth and I raised a million pounds for the local community by the age of 18.

That money went to deserving causes in Portsmouth, Fareham and Gosport.

Although purse strings are tight, especially with Christmas and the New Year just gone, if people believe it’s a good cause, they will donate. And any cause is a good cause. People will just have their own preferences of who they want to give to.

Irrespective of the amount of campaigning and advertising, people will still give.

I’m a great believer in fundraising. It’s got to be fun to make it worthwhile – if it’s fun the money will follow.

Persevering is important, don’t give up.

Planning is essential, think outside the box, but the box can be a big influence.

If you’ve got a world cup coming up, football, rugby, or whatever, look forward to see what you can tie in with it.

The Eurovision song contest is a good one, if that’s already happening, why not use that as a themed event?

Think of something, look at what is happening in the world, before you even start considering doing anything.